Columnist Sandy Thompson: Program provides lifeline for parents

Sandy Thompson

Saturday, Nov. 4, 2000 | 3:39 a.m.

Sandy Thompson is vice president/associate editor of the Las Vegas Sun. She can be reached at 259-4025 or at thompson@lasvegassun.com

THE FIRST three years of a child's life are considered the most crucial time for intellectual, social and emotional development.

With that in mind, a statewide program called Family to Family Connection has been offering services since 1997 to parents of newborns through age 1. Because they do not have family support here, many of the parents consider the program a lifeline.

"Family to Family provides information on child safety, health, nutrition, support for nursing, infant CPR, (how to deal with) collicky babies -- how to care for the total child and not just one aspect of the child's needs," says Karen Austin, the mother of a toddler who has benefited from the program.

Family to Family's guidance, she says, resulted in "a healthier, safer and more nurturing first year for our son. It also has reduced our unnecessary use of the health care system, absenteeism from work and made our family life more manageable."

The program, a pet project of former Gov. Bob Miller, is administered through 13 Infant Support Districts throughout the state. From July 1, 1999, to Dec. 31, 1999, 7,701 babies were served.

From all accounts, Family to Family fulfills a vital role in helping parents get kids started on the right foot.

Dianne Farkas, manager of the program in northwest Las Vegas, says that in September alone, her center offered 38 classes on health, safety, development and parenting. More than 300 parents were served. Program staff visited 194 new parents in the hospital. There were 46 private consultations either in the home or through telephone support. Formula, diapers and used baby clothing and equipment are distributed to those in need.

"Family to Family is one of the first programs where we're at the forefront of helping families," says Richard Sgaglio, manager of the program in Henderson.

That's noteworthy in a state that's not known for being family-friendly. Nevada usually ranks at the top in all the wrong categories -- teen pregnancy, unhealthy environment, suicide, etc.

Despite its success, Family to Family is in danger of being cut back or eliminated. One thorn in the side of state funders is that the program, which operates on a $2.2 million budget, offers services to all new parents regardless of income levels. Some believe the services should only be available to people who "desperately need them" and not to families who can pay.

Since Nevada may be facing a $1 billion shortfall over the next 10 years, a committee formed by Gov. Kenny Guinn to review state government is recommending that Family to Family be folded into Family Resource Centers that are located only in at-risk neighborhoods throughout the state.

As for serving only "at-risk" families, Farkas says: "Many families who have legal problems with their child would not have been considered at risk when their child was born, but without adequate information regarding basic behavior and individual needs, it is truly a slippery slope. They may not be at risk now, but who knows about five or 10 years from now."

There is concern that Guinn's Republican administration is targeting Family to Family because it was his Democratic predecessor's project.

While there are legitimate funding issues, we should not use families as political footballs.

Now is the time for all interested parties to get creative and come up with a plan that would not decimate Family to Family services, even if it means charging small fees to those who can afford it. As Karen Austin points out, "A healthy, capable parent is all the more likely to raise a healthy, capable child."